do-me/EUR-LEX huggingface dataset:
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 832/96 by Hedwig KEPPELHOFF-WIECHERT to the Commission. Discrimination by Netherlands authorities
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, KEPPELHOFF-WIECHERT
Subjects: EU national, Netherlands, competence of the Member States, fine, parking charge













EUR-Lex - 91996E0832 - EN






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91996E0832

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 832/96 by Hedwig KEPPELHOFF-WIECHERT to the Commission. Discrimination by Netherlands authorities  


Official Journal C 322 , 28/10/1996 P. 0010 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0832/96 by Hedwig Keppelhoff-Wiechert (PPE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Discrimination by Netherlands authoritiesA citizen from my constituency visited the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. During his visit he parked in a public car-park managed by the Parkeerbeheer (Car-park Management Service). He displayed the requisite parking ticket prominently on the windscreen. Although he went to collect his vehicle several minutes before the ticket expired, he had unjustifiably been given a parking fine and the vehicle had been wheel-clamped. The owner complained about the incident to the Parkeerbeheer, which demanded immediate payment of the fine. The owner submitted numerous complaints but the unjustified fine was never refunded. All his complaints were rejected as unfounded.1. Is the Commission aware of these unjustified practices and what is it going to do about them?2. Is this a case of discrimination against an EU citizen, in particular a German in the Netherlands?3. Is this practice an infringement of European law?4. Does the Commission agree that such procedures lead to rejection of the process of European unification among citizens?5. Can the Commission annul the decision taken by the Netherlands authorities against an EU citizen, and is there a chance of demanding that the fine be refunded?Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (23 May 1996)The Commission has no jurisdiction to deal with the question asked, which is a matter solely for the Netherlands authorities.The case described by the Honourable Member reveals no infringement of Community law.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 839/96 by Sérgio RIBEIRO to the Commission. Trans-European networks (Lisbon-Valladolid project)
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, RIBEIRO
Subjects: EU financing, Portugal, motorway, road transport, transport infrastructure













EUR-Lex - 91996E0839 - EN






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91996E0839

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 839/96 by Sérgio RIBEIRO to the Commission. Trans-European networks (Lisbon-Valladolid project)  


Official Journal C 322 , 28/10/1996 P. 0012 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0839/96 by Sérgio Ribeiro (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Trans-European networks (Lisbon-Valladolid project)A change in political leadership in the Member States may disrupt projects which have already begun or which are just at the financial negotiation stage. In Portugal, a Member State which is severely lacking in communications infrastructures suitable for inclusion in the trans-European network, the recent parliamentary elections provide an illustration of this tendency.Changes in projects and/or routes create controversy in which ministers from the previous government stress the advantages of the shelved project and the shortcomings of its replacement, whilst the current government takes precisely the opposite view, with the result that assessing the two opposing projects objectively is not an easy task.Could the Commission say what the repercussions could be, from the Community financing point of view, of the decision by the current government to replace the project for a Lisbon-Valladolid motorway by another one with a different route which effectively downgrades this transport link?Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (22 May 1996)According to the information currently in the Commission's possession, uncertainties in the definition and alignment of the Lisbon to Valladolid project will have no implications for the level of Community funding for the Lisbon-Valladolid project provided that proposed changes remain within the scope of trans-European network (TEN). Much will depend on the requests ultimately made by the Portuguese authorities for support from the TEN budget line, the Cohesion fund and the European regional development fund.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 824/96 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Construction of a sewage treatment plant on Samos
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Greece, competence of the Member States, economic priority, environmental impact, impact study, public financing, regional development, use of aid, water treatment













EUR-Lex - 91996E0824 - EN






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91996E0824

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 824/96 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Construction of a sewage treatment plant on Samos  


Official Journal C 280 , 25/09/1996 P. 0087 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0824/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Construction of a sewage treatment plant on SamosThe construction of a sewage treatment plant in the commune of Pagondhas, Samos, was included in a joint Interior Ministry-North Aegean Region programme. The commune subsequently commissioned, and funded, a project study and an environmental impact assessment. It should be pointed out that the sewage treatment project will benefit the region in many ways; not only will sanitary conditions be improved, the tourist industry and the economy will also gain (it will be possible to develop a longer stretch of the Heraion coast).The North Aegean Region recently decided to allocate the appropriations earmarked for sewage treatment to other projects, probably road-building, so that all that remains of this essential sewage treatment project is the expenditure on the studies. Bearing in mind that such a decision defies both common sense and all scientific analysis (developmental, economic, environmental), that pollution hits the tourist industry and numerous professions which depend directly on tourism and the sea, that money has already been spent on the studies and that the hopes of the region's population have been raised, can the Commission confirm that the above is actually true? If so, what objective criteria were used to reallocate the appropriations, and what will the Commission do to support and implement the first investment project, which is recognized as a major priority as far as the tourist industry and the environment is concerned and which is closely bound up with the health of the region's inhabitants?Answer given by Mrs Bjerregaard on behalf of the Commission (24 May 1996)The Commission is not aware of these projects which are apparently financed under the national budget. It is of course up to the Greek authorities to decide on the priority of the projects they finance in their regions.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 847/96 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Commission. Financing of the Cohesion Fund
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, MENDEZ DE VIGO
Subjects: Greece, Portugal, Spain, financing method, project management, public debt, terms for aid













EUR-Lex - 91996E0847 - EN






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91996E0847

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 847/96 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Commission. Financing of the Cohesion Fund  


Official Journal C 345 , 15/11/1996 P. 0009 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0847/96 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Financing of the Cohesion FundIn the course of the current year the Commission is to examine the final 1995 budgetary reports of the Member States which receive money from the Cohesion Fund in order to ascertain whether or not they have achieved the public deficit management objectives set by the Council for that year. If a given Member State has not fulfilled the objective set by the Council for 1995 the Commission will suspend payments from the Cohesion Fund for new projects or further stages of existing projects. Will the Commission's examination be carried out in strict accordance with the economic indicators or will account be taken of the fact that the Member States in question may have made progress even if they have not fulfilled all the criteria exactly?Answer given by Mrs Wulf-Mathies on behalf of the Commission (25 June 1996)In September 1994 the Council decided in accordance with Article 104C, paragraph 6, EC Treaty that of the four Member States benefiting from the Cohesion fund Greece, Portugal and Spain had excessive government deficits. The Council fixed the annual objective for the 1995 deficit ratio to gross domestic product (GDP) for each Member State as follows:>TABLE>The Commission has examined the budgetary performance of these Member States for the year 1995 taking into account data transmitted by the Member States in March 1996 and reached the conclusions set out below. GreeceOn 14 May 1996, in the framework of its spring economic forecasts, the Commission presented a government deficit of 9.2% of GDP for Greece in 1995. For 1995 it can therefore be concluded that the Greek government deficit was inside the target recommended for that year by the Council. PortugalOn 14 May 1996, in the framework of its spring economic forecasts, the Commission presented a government deficit of 5.4% of GDP for Portugal in 1995. For 1995 it can therefore be concluded that the Portuguese government deficit was inside the target recommended for that year by the Council. SpainOn 14 May 1996, in the framework of its spring economic forecasts, the Commission presented a government deficit of 5.8% of GDP for Spain in 1995. For 1995 it can therefore be concluded that the Spanish government deficit was inside the target recommended for that year by the Council.Hence the Commission will continue to approve new projects or, in the case of large multistage projects, new phases of projects in Greece, Portugal and Spain, until a new assessment of the deficit performance of those Member States is carried out as scheduled in autumn 1996.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 867/96 by Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE to the Commission. EU imports of Mexican avocados
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: ARIAS CANETE, European Parliament
Subjects: EU production, Mexico, common organisation of markets, import, import policy, import restriction, product quality, quality standard, restriction on competition, tropical fruit













EUR-Lex - 91996E0867 - EN






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91996E0867

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 867/96 by Miguel ARIAS CAÑETE to the Commission. EU imports of Mexican avocados  


Official Journal C 280 , 25/09/1996 P. 0095 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0867/96 by Miguel Arias Cañete (PPE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: EU imports of Mexican avocadosEU imports of Mexican avocados are increasing at an alarming rate, thus jeopardizing the development of Community production. However, the proposed reform of the COM in fruit and vegetables does not refer to avocados in the section on the quality standards applicable to Annex N.1 products.If this situation remains unchanged it will not be possible to control imports of products from Mexico (under more favourable price conditions), the flow of which will be impossible to control unless quality standards similar to those applicable to Community produce are imposed.Could the Commission say whether there are any proposals for including avocados amongst the Annex 1 products and defining quality and other standards relating thereto?Answer given by Mr Fischler on behalf of the Commission (2 May 1996)The Commission is indeed aware of the rise in avocado imports from Mexico during 1993 and 1994. The figures it has for 1995, though incomplete, bear out this trend. However, the rise appears to be at the expense of other traditional suppliers since total imports of avocadoes have remained stable over the period and show that the non-member country share of the Community market is stagnating. As a result, the Commission does not believe that the rise in Mexican imports could disrupt the Community market.The Commission agrees that standards are a valuable tool in achieving fair trade and transparent markets. The inclusion of avocados in the list of products classified under a system of standards is being looked into by the Council as part of its work on reform of common organization of the markets for processed fruit and vegetables. ((COM(95) 434 final. ))
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 854/96 by Marianne ERIKSSON to the Commission. Impact of convergence
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: ERIKSSON, European Parliament
Subjects: Economic and Monetary Union, economic convergence, female unemployment, statistics, unemployment













EUR-Lex - 91996E0854 - EN






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91996E0854

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 854/96 by Marianne ERIKSSON to the Commission. Impact of convergence  


Official Journal C 297 , 08/10/1996 P. 0038 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0854/96 by Marianne Eriksson (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Impact of convergenceIn several countries the convergence criteria designed to achieve Economic and Monetary Union have brought public sector cuts which in turn have pushed up unemployment, affecting women in particular.Does the Commission have access to statistics showing how much unemployment, especially among women, has increased as a result of the convergence criteria?If it does not, will it in future keep statistics on the impact of the convergence criteria as reflected in public sector cuts and higher unemployment, among women in particular?Answer given by Mr de Silguy on behalf of the Commission (4 June 1996)Budget consolidation is needed in most Member States, and is a part of national economic policies, regardless of the specific convergence criteria contained in the Treaty on European Union. The employment effects of budget consolidation are not confined to the apparent first-round effects of a cut in public sector spending. The derived effects from sounder public finances - lower interest rates, more private investment and employment - have to be taken into account.It is possible to estimate these effects using macro-economic models, but it makes no sense to try to disaggregate the statistical registration of the unemployed according to criteria like this. That is why no statistics are available on issues like female unemployment due to the convergence criteria, and that is why the Commission does not intend to develop any new statistical registration along these lines.The available statistics on unemployment and more specifically concerning female unemployment might include the 'Key employment indicators in the European Union' (Commission's Employment in Europe 1995 ((COM(95) 396. ))) and the current Eurostat unemployment data:Unemployment rates seasonally adjusted (EUR 15)>TABLE>At community level and in most Member States unemployment rates for women have persistently been above those for men. In a longer perspective the relative spread between unemployment for women and men has narrowed (see table cited above). However, the most recent monthly figures are showing a highly synchronised development, with no change in the spread between the two series (see data set out above).
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 853/96 by Leen van der WAAL to the Commission. Enforced closure of religious radio station in Romania
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, VAN DER WAAL
Subjects: Romania, broadcasting, free movement of programmes, freedom of religious beliefs, religion













EUR-Lex - 91996E0853 - EN






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91996E0853

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 853/96 by Leen van der WAAL to the Commission. Enforced closure of religious radio station in Romania  


Official Journal C 297 , 08/10/1996 P. 0037 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0853/96 by Leen van der Waal (EDN) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Enforced closure of religious radio station in RomaniaAccording to reports in Nederlands Dagblad and information from the Netherlands religious organization 'Dorkas Hulp aan Vervolgden' (aid for victims of persecution), the Romanian state-run National Council for Authorized Broadcasters has decided to withdraw broadcasting rights from two radio stations belonging to the religious broadcasting organization 'Voice of the Gospel' in Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca. The radio stations in Timisoara and Suceava are also threatened with closure. This is happening despite the fact that in 1989 the National Council for Authorized Broadcasters took the decision to grant broadcasting rights for five years to the Evangelical Alliance of Romania, which unites various religious groups.1. Can the Commission confirm these reports?2. Does the Commission share my view that these actions conflict with the internationally recognized rights, also incorporated into Romania's Media Law and Basic Law, to freedom of worship and freedom of expression?3. Does the Commission also take the view that the above actions are at odds with the Europe-Agreement concluded with Romania?4. What action does the Commission intend to take?Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission (10 June 1996)The Commission understands that this is a technical problem related to finding frequencies with enough emission power and not related to freedom of expression. The Romanian authorities have offered a new frequency to 'Voice of the gospel'.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 828/96 by José APOLINÁRIO to the Commission. Discrimination against local stations radio in the Commission' s information campaigns
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: APOLINARIO, European Parliament
Subjects: Portugal, broadcasting, consumer protection, invitation to tender, public contract, restriction on competition













EUR-Lex - 91996E0828 - EN






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91996E0828

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 828/96 by José APOLINÁRIO to the Commission. Discrimination against local stations radio in the Commission' s information campaigns  


Official Journal C 185 , 25/06/1996 P. 0085 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0828/96 by José Apolinário (PSE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Discrimination against local stations radio in the Commission's information campaignsThe Commission recently conducted an information campaign for consumers, which on the whole was extremely well received and in Portugal was widely broadcast on national radio stations.Given the role of local radio in Portugal, which is one of the most important sectors of the media in the country, what reasons lie behind the Commission's discrimination against local radio stations?Answer given by Mrs Bonino on behalf of the Commission (26 April 1996)The 1995 radio campaign on consumer rights was conducted in the context of an open procedure. The Commission published an invitation to tender ((OJ No C 359, 16.12.1994. )) and communication firms submitted their bids in reply. None concerned the involvement of local radios in Portugal.The definitive publicity plan was drawn up with an eye to ensuring the widest possible coverage compatible with the campaign's budget. Therefore it was not possible to include in the operation all the media which could have contributed to the success of this initiative. At any rate, there was no discriminatory intent in deciding on how to broadcast the messages in Portugal.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 823/96 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Money laundering
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, PAPAYANNAKIS
Subjects: Council of the European Union, EC Directive, Greece, financial legislation, free service, law of banking













EUR-Lex - 91996E0823 - EN






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91996E0823

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 823/96 by Mihail PAPAYANNAKIS to the Commission. Money laundering  


Official Journal C 280 , 25/09/1996 P. 0087 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0823/96 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Money launderingDirective 91/308/EEC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering ((OJ L 166, 28.6.1991, p. 77. )) requires Member States to bring into force the legislation necessary to comply with the Directive before 1 January 1993 (Article 16).Bearing in mind that the effectiveness of attempts to combat money laundering depends mainly on the coordination and harmonization of national implementing measures, what measures has Greece taken at national level to combat money laundering? Has it implemented the laws, regulations and administrative decisions necessary to comply with Directive 91/308/EEC? Has Greece communicated to the Commission the text of the main provisions of national law which it has adopted in the field governed by the Directive? And what steps will the Commission take if it finds that the Directive in question has been inadequately implemented by the competent Greek authorities?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (13 May 1996)Greece implemented Directive 91/308/EEC on prevention of the use of the financial system for the purpose of money laundering by law no 2331 of 24 August 1995 ((Government Gazette no 173, 24.8.1995. )). This law was formally notified to the Commission.The Commission is in the process of studying the Greek legislation. Were it to have any doubts as to its conformity with the Directive it would follow the standard procedures.
WRITTEN QUESTION No. 849/96 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Commission. Transposition of Community law on the recognition of diplomas
Date: 1996-04-12
Institutions: European Parliament, MENDEZ DE VIGO
Subjects: Belgium, Greece, action for failure to fulfil an obligation, higher education, recognition of diplomas, vocational training













EUR-Lex - 91996E0849 - EN






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91996E0849

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 849/96 by Iñigo MÉNDEZ DE VIGO to the Commission. Transposition of Community law on the recognition of diplomas  


Official Journal C 297 , 08/10/1996 P. 0037 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-0849/96 by Iñigo Méndez de Vigo (PPE) to the Commission (12 April 1996)Subject: Transposition of Community law on the recognition of diplomasThe Commission has initiated proceedings against Belgium and Greece for their failure to incorporate into national law the Community legislation on the recognition of higher-education diplomas by all the Member States (Directives 89/48 ((OJ L 19, 24.1.1989, p. 16 ))and 92/51 ((OJ L 209, 24.7.1992, p. 25 ))).What stage have the proceedings reached and when may the Court of Justice judgment be expected?Answer given by Mr Monti on behalf of the Commission (21 May 1996)Council Directive 89/48/EEC of 21 December 1988 established a general system for the recognition of higher-education diplomas awarded on completion of professional education and training of at least three years. This Directive had to be incorporated into national law by every Member State by 4 January 1991. The Commission, which had received several complaints in this connection, noted that the Directive had not been incorporated into national law in Greece or Belgium. Accordingly, it brought an action before the Court of Justice to have the infringement censured. The Court delivered rulings in March 1995 in respect of Greece and in July 1995 in respect of Belgium to the effect that, by failing to incorporate the Directive into national law by the prescribed deadline, these two Member States had failed to fulfil their obligations under the EC Treaty.In the weeks that followed, the Commission asked Greece and Belgium to comply with the Court's rulings. In the absence of a satisfactory response by these two Member States, proceedings will be instituted under Article 171 of the EC Treaty.Council Directive 92/51/EEC of 18 June 1992 established a second general system for the recognition of professional education and training to supplement Directive 89/48/EC. The Member States were obliged to take the measures necessary to incorporate the Directive into national law by 18 June 1994. The Commission has received no information to date on any such measures adopted in Greece or Belgium. In this connection, reasoned opinions were issued in November 1995 (Greece) and February 1996 (Belgium).